Sierra - 10.12 Any issues

[Barret]

Is anybody running catalyst 5 on the new operating system, and if so is there any issues?
I'm about to buy in some new macs and was wondering if it's a case of having to downgrade the OS for anything running catalyst or can I safely start using 10.12, which is preferable, due to a multitude of other software we use.

[Oscar Jimenez Casabella]

:confused: :confused:

[Mr_P]

UPDATED March 2017
Have been testing Catalyst V5 with 10.12.0 on a MacPro 6,1 with D700 and it seems to be working fine.

EDIT March 2017:
EXCEPT for editing exact maps - Don't use 10.12.x if you want to edit an exact map.
However, if you load in a pre-edited exact map, Catalyst (V5 n561) will run fine (just don't try to edit the map in catalyst)
Current suggestion is to use OS 10.9.5 as is seems to be the most stable (and usable) of any version listed below.
Will post any updates when available.

Setup:
3.5G 6Core MacPro 6,1
16GB RAM, 256GB FS Dual FirePro D700 GPU 6GB
using 6x startech active MDP-DVI 2m cables connected to a Lightware 16x16 DVI PRO Matrix (EDID 1920x1080@50)

Have tested the following OS and these are my observations:
(note - these may differ to your experience depending upon hardware setup and configuration - IF IN DOUBT - TEST)

10.9.5 -
works ok. Sometimes issues with OS not recognising multiple monitors at startup, usually fixed by a restart. (or PRAM restart)
USB drivers for audio can be problematic is a USB device is removed. (ie audio stops)

10.10.5 -
works ok. But seems to mirror every startup when multiple monitors are connected. Only way to resolve seems to be re-order in system preferences.
USB drivers for audio can be problematic is a USB device is removed. (ie audio stops)

10.11.6 -
works ok. multiple monitors come back the same at startup
USB drivers for audio still problematic, but less so than above - only small drop-out when a USB device is disconnected (ie keyboard)

10.12.0 -
works ok. multiple monitors come back the same at startup
USB drivers for audio still problematic, but less so than above - only small drop-out when a USB device is disconnected (ie keyboard)
Also seems to resolve issue with blank 'Preset Edit' window with n561
NOTE: - There is a problem editing exact maps due to changes in MacOS 10.12.x. Don't use 10.12.x if you want to edit an exact map.
However, if you load in a pre-edited exact map, Catalyst (V5 n561) will run fine (just don't try to edit the map in catalyst)


Generally - seems to be no performance difference between OS versions.

The later versions of OS have more 'enhancements' to disable:
- Disable Spotlight
- Disable Dashboard
- Disable Notification Centre
- Disable Mission Control and Spaces
- Disable Energy Saver
- Disable Screen saver
- Disable Time Machine
- Disable Software Update
- Disable App Nap
- Disable Siri (10.12.0)
- Enable 'Allow apps from registered developer / anywhere'

TEST THOROUGHLY OFFLINE BEFORE USE CHANGING OS

[Barret]

Hi Simon,

Thanks for your input, always appreciated. This is all reassuring

Barret

[Oscar Jimenez Casabella]

Good information, thanks Simon

[5th Element]

That is interesting, I was having a ton of instability with El Capitan. Catalyst would regularly freeze... I rolled back to 10.9.5 but I do have the issue you described where sometimes it just does not recognize 1 monitor in a multi-monitor setup and I have to manually unplug cables... Very annoying.

[PascalVittoz]

I have just a problem when i want to quit catalyst V5 under os 10.12. I get an error, and the preferences are not saved.

[Oscar Jimenez Casabella]

With 525??? :confused:

[PascalVittoz]

With 525??? :confused:

with 561

[Cherman]

I have found with 10.12.2 doing anything with Exact maps makes Catalyst 561 unstable and crash or crash on save.

In my testing if this starts happening, and I then go and delete my exact map, everything goes back to happy.

Cheers

Chris

[Barret]

I'm glad you've added this Cherman. I've mentioned the crashing I was getting with exact maps in another thread (' Mixmappingprefs problem'). It helps to know others are having the same problem. Hopefully the problem will be dealt with, it's quite worrying but downgrading the OS on the new MacBook pro isn't an option.

[Salvador]

I can confirm this issue with Sierra. Makes prep work with exact maps on my laptop impossible.

Also found that when running config scripts it also causes a crash.

[Barret]

yep, trying to prep in sierra is a nightmare. I'm going through it now.
The current method is to edit the MixMappingPrefs in a third party program and leave the file out of the catalyst folder until Catalyst is prepped as much as possible.
Looks like an OS downgrade is looming which is a real shame
Richard - is there a possibility this will be looked at - your feedback would be appreciated


latest crash report:

[Mr_P]

Odd - been running shows on 10.12.1 for the last few months without issue...

Can you all give a little more info about the circumstances where a crash happened:
What you were doing, Os, hardware, setup, etc

Would be interesting to replicate and test

S

[Barret]

Here's the details.

Hardware - I've tried this on three machines now - A new Mac Pro (late 2013), 2013 MacBook pro, and a brand new clean 2016 MacBook Pro. First two are running Sierra 10.12.1, new mac running 10.12.2. Using Catalyst n561. Video outputs have been varied over the last two weeks, but right now i'm in my studio with three Monitors attached to my Mac pro - 1 x 2560x1440 and 2 x 1080p all at 60hz.

The problem is related to using Exact Maps. For example just now i've opened a completely clean, empty folder of Catalyst. I've made some presets and saved them without issues. Then I've added two exact maps first a rect warp then a keystone rect with default settings. On trying to save this time Catalyst crashes. The mix mapping prefs are saved but I'd lose any preset made since the last save.
Opening this Catalyst a second I can now save as usual with the Exact maps and quit as usual. On a third time on which I've added a new rect warp to the exact map Catalyst crashes on saving.
Problems opening and saving is inconsistent but more probable to be likely to crash on saving.

I've run two shows over the last 3 weeks both using exact maps - one built from scratch and the other programmed earlier this year - they run on different machines both on Sierra with the same issues. The later would generally take five or more times to open before each show. This same catalyst set-up toured for two months earlier this year running on the same machine but on OS 10.10 without any issues

I hope thats enough info Simon

cheers


Barret

[Mr_P]

Possibly as simple as a permissions issue with the folder or location where you are saving the settings.

Try creating a new folder on the desktop and copying the catalyst app in to it.

The fact it works in other OS shows that it's not a catalyst software issue - it's an OS problem.

Not tried 10.12.2 - but will see if I can replicate the issue...

S

[Cherman]

Moving to the desktop does not solve this issue. 10.12.2. Early 2013 MBP.

And to be clear I wouldn't run my shows on 10.12.x but my laptop os current, and as mentioned above, doing prep work on it is now a bit of a debacle.

[Barret]

Is there any news with this - its not a simple permissions issue, just a problem with exact maps only. Loading a show not using exact maps in Sierra is fine.

[Barret]

I've got to keep trying to press on this- I'm just going through ht same process again - brand new clear catalyst folder on the desktop - all fine until I introduce exact mapping then when trying to save crash.
Can we have some feedback on this - sometimes it feels like i'd get a better response from a brick wall than some official feedback.

[Mr_P]

Have you tried with 10.12.3?

S